Lights - LED lamps as front marker lights

[CD]

LED marker lights work well on a bike. Bright and white without being dazzling.

Halfords sell strip style LED lights that are deigned to be fixed under a car bumper. The snag is finding a suitable place to mount them. Something 4" wide and 1/2" high isn't an ideal shape for a bike.

Kamasa sell LED torches...
www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/products/211285/kamasa_led_magnetic_torch.html

As it says bright but with a good spread, so ideal as bike marker lamps.
I made us some brackets to mount the lights inside the lower part of the fairing either side of the oil cooler. The brackets hang from the indicator mounting bolts with the lighs stuck on with heavy duty double sided tape.

But they run on three AAA batteries. To drive them from the bike electrics I used a voltage converter like this. I had to fiddle about a bit to permanently feed-in the 12V but its not beyond an average bike meddler.

shop.eurobatteries.com/regulated-dcdc-converter-volt-1500ma-p-369.html

I chose to solder the wires onto the battery terminals inside the torch, but I could have cut some wooden dowels to do the same job in place of batteries.

The torch hanging clip comes off when the back is removed leaving a handy point for the new wires to exit.

My lamps have been on for about 6 months and definitely make the bike more visible. I've lost count of the number of car driver's about to pull-out who aborted at the last moment when they spotted the lights.

These days I dont bother with the headlight. The LED lamps are far more visible.

[Pool Boy]

The lights shown in your first link are currently available from BP petrol stations for £3.99 each when you buy fuel or shop goods - I know 'cos I got one today (although I didn't think of using it on a bike!)

No idea how long they'll be available for - or if it's nationwide or just local to here

Roger

[CD]

You did well.
I got mine at a motorway services for £8 each, assumed they were a job lot so got 2 pairs. At £4 a throw I'll get another pair.

These pix were taken looking towards the sun and the lights still stand out. It wasnt misty, just springtime sun streaking across the lens.

Lights on


Lights off

[tone]

CD

How are you switching those ? Have you installed an in line switch so that you can manually knock them on and off or are they off the main switch controls via the Ignition ?

I have some parts arriving from HK to do a similar mod and would like the option to have them switched independantly from the main lights but off an ignition live only so that any fool cant walk past the bike, turn them on and knack my battery ?

What am I looking for to find the best ignition live ? Main lights Supply ?

Cheers
Tone

[beerbelly]

tone,
i have a couple as well,i used the side light and chopped in to that,pretty easy to do and easy to get at,that way no spotty youth can come along and switch them on when your not there !!!!!!!!!!

[CD]

I used a cigar lighter power converter with switchable voltage set to 4.5 volts - same as the original alkaline batteries would have given. The box is fed from the main switched live at the connector on my heated grips relay. So its neat and switched with the ignition I cant run the bike without the lights.

The mounting brackets were a bigger headache. Using 25mm x 3mm steel, a strip about 50mm long is bolted to the front indicator brackets with washers so in wont buckle. A second strip with the end angled at about 45 degs is welded so it comes inwards at 90 degs but hangs down due to the angled end. (hope that makes sense)

The lamps are stuck on with the double sided tape used for car trim strips.

However, I dont use the original indicators so the mount holes were vacant. Im not sure if the standard Divvie indicator stalk bolts are long enough to take the brackets and washers and nuts

[rossm]

Could use these www.bikevis.com/motorcycle-led-running-lights.html , just bought a set myself

[tone]

Its these ive ordered with a white bulb.

cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-5-LED-MOTORCYCLE-CAR-POD-ACCENT-LIGHT-BAR-12V-BIKE_W0QQitemZ180416793468QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2a01adcb7c

and as they are 12v i can just wire them straight in.

I plan to paint the silver shell black and make a metal strip bracket which sits just under the stalk part of the indicator. I can then route the wires through that way too and they will look fairly unobtrusive.

Ill post up when im done.

[rossm]

Sounds like a plan, I'll look forward to seeing the finished article

[CD]

Oct 23, 2009 18:21:15 GMT tone said:

Its these ive ordered with a white bulb.

cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-5-LED-MOTORCYCLE-CAR-POD-ACCENT-LIGHT-BAR-12V-BIKE_W0QQitemZ180416793468QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2a01adcb7c

and as they are 12v i can just wire them straight in.

I plan to paint the silver shell black and make a metal strip bracket which sits just under the stalk part of the indicator. I can then route the wires through that way too and they will look fairly unobtrusive.

Ill post up when im done.

It maybe worth gaffa taping them on before doing too much. They might be too close to the indicators for other drivers to see them flashing.

[tone]

It maybe worth gaffa taping them on before doing too much. They might be too close to the indicators for other drivers to see them flashing.

Its a good point and something I though of at the weekend when I was in the garage. I have some backup locations for mounting so once they come , ill see what they look like. The advert has them at 1"1/2 so about 40mm so they wont be too overpowering or glaring.

I though that if they sit under the stalk part of the indicator ( not the bulb housing ) then they shouldnt be too over the top. My Flashers are Orange Covers rather than orange bulb so im hoping that makes the difference too.

Cheers
Tone

[CD]

This is mine from closer up. They are lower down than the indicators and I believe folks can see when I'm turning. At least - I've not had any "moments" on overtakes or right turns.

[streetfreak]

Same thing different end , check out a german co' called whitelights on ebay stores ,as they do led rear lamps for 'versions 600 'n' 900 in clear and smoke they look damn funkey if i say so myself. May be geting some soon if money allows!